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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A new tropical cyclone has formed near
Cape Verde Islands and is heading northwest. Based on current
predictions, this storm will intensify and become the 11th named storm
and most likely the 2nd hurricane of the Atlantic Season. We will
monitor the storm when it is named.

1100 AM AST SAT SEP 10 2011
...KATIA LOSES TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OVER THE FAR NORTH
ATLANTIC...EXPECTED TO BRING STRONG WINDS TO THE BRITISH
ISLES AS A POWERFUL POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE ON MONDAY...

THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER ON KATIA. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS SYSTEM CAN BE FOUND
IN HIGH SEAS FORECASTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...
UNDER AWIPS HEADER NFDHSFAT1 AND WMO HEADER FZNT01 KWBC.

ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO PASS
OVER OR NEAR THE NORTHERN BRITISH ISLES ON MONDAY.

There are no current itinerary changes but cruise lines continue to monitor all the tropical cyclones.

ON THE FORECAST TRACK...KATIA IS
EXPECTED TO REMAIN WELL SOUTH OF NOVA SCOTIA AND NEWFOUNDLAND.

Current Watches & Warnings

THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. A WARNING IS TYPICALLY ISSUED
36 HOURS BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF
TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS...CONDITIONS THAT MAKE OUTSIDE
PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR DANGEROUS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
WITHIN THE WATCH AREA. A WATCH IS TYPICALLY ISSUED 48 HOURS
BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE
WINDS...CONDITIONS THAT MAKE OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR
DANGEROUS. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. KATIA IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A STRONG EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE
OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
WIND...GALE- TO STORM-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT MUCH OF
THE BRITISH ISLES ON MONDAY...AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO TREES AND
DISRUPT TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES. INTERESTS IN
AND AROUND THE BRITISH ISLES AND NORTHERN EUROPE SHOULD MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THE UK MET OFFICE AT
WWW.METOFFICE.GOV.UK/WEATHER/.
SURF...LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY KATIA WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT U.S.
NEW ENGLAND AREAS...ATLANTIC CANADA...AND BERMUDA TODAY....AND
SPREAD EASTWARD INTO THE BRITISH ISLES SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THESE
SWELLS ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING SURF AND RIP CURRENT
CONDITIONS. PLEASE CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
RAINFALL...TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 50 TO 100 MILLIMETERS...
2 TO 4 INCHES...ARE EXPECTED OVER THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS OF SCOTLAND
THROUGH MONDAY.

Norwegian Gem will depart today from New York; however, in order to
avoid the path of the storm and provide a more comfortable and pleasant
cruise for our guests, the ship will now sail to the Bahamas &
Florida instead of Bermuda as scheduled. Norwegian Gem will now call on
Orlando (Port Canaveral) on Tuesday, September 6; Great Stirrup Cay,
Bahamas on Wednesday, September 7; and Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday,
September 8.
NCL will update their website and Facebook page daily throughout the
weekend. The next update is scheduled for 2 pm on Sunday, September 4.

While Hurricane Irene was pounding the East Coast of the United States early Sunday morning, another tropical cyclone formed in the Atlantic near Bermuda. There have not been any cruise itinerary changes posted due to Tropical Storm Jose.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 30 MPH...45
KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMNANTS OF
JOSE WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY DECREASE DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

Watches and WarningsTHERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN 12 HOURS.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Continuing our 12 Night Mediterranean and Greek Isles Cruise we journey to ancient Greece once more. This time we find ourselves in the ancient Olympia Archaeological Site, the birthplace of the Olympic games which
started on these very grounds in 776 B.C.

The games were held every Olympiad (i.e. every four years), a tradition that remains in modern times. The games were so important
to the Greeks that they put aside their traditional differences, and even
went as far as ceasing open hostilities in war time in order to descent
to the sanctuary of Olympia to compete in the honorable games.

During our guided tour of Olympia, we stood on the site of the current Olympic Stadium. The Olympic flame of the modern-day Olympic Games is lit by reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror in front of the Temple of Hera and then transported by a torch to the place where the games are held. Before we tell you more about the stadium, let's explore the other important ancient ruins.

The sanctuary, known as the Altis, consists of an unordered arrangement of various buildings. The sanctuary spreads around the green
wooded feet of the Kronion hill at the confluence of the Alfeiós and
Kládeos rivers.

The valley amongst the two rivers was in ancient times
full of wild olive trees, poplars, oaks, pines and plane trees and it
was these trees that gave the center of the sanctuary the name Altis,
the sacred grove (from alsos, meaning grove).

The temples and religious buildings
were located inside the Altis, the sanctuary to the gods. The sports
structures designed for the events of the Olympic Games honoring Zeus as
well as dwellings for the priests, baths, guest houses, etc. were
outside of the Altis.

Gymnasion (The Gymnasium)

The gymnasium in ancient Greece functioned as a training facility for competitors in public games. It was also a place for socializing and
engaging in intellectual pursuits. The name comes from the Ancient Greek
term gymnós meaning "naked". Athletes competed in the nude, a practice
said to encourage aesthetic appreciation of the male body and a tribute
to the gods.

The ancient Greek gymnasium soon became
a place for more than exercise. The Greeks discovered the strong relation between athletics,
education and health. Accordingly, the gymnasium became connected with
education on the one hand and medicine on the other. Physical training
and maintenance of health and strength were the chief parts of
children's earlier education.

The Palaestra at Olympia is part of the
gymnasium at the sanctuary. This sixty-six meter square building dates
to the end of the third or beginning of the 2nd century BC. It was used to practice boxing, wrestling and jumping.

At its centre was an open court, forty
one metres square, surrounded by a Doric colonnade of 72 columns and
laid with fine sand on which the athletes trained.

Workshop of Pheidias
West of the sacred enclosure, directly opposite the temple of Zeus, was the Workshop of Pheidias where the
great sculptor crafted the gigantic statue of Zeus, listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

The building was erected in the second
half of the fifth century, when Pheidias, after completing the
sculptures for the Athenian Acropolis, went to Olympia to work on the
statue of Zeus. Excavation finds and pottery date it precisely to
430-420 BC.

Sometime between AD 435-451, an early
Christian basilica was erected over the ruined foundation of the
building. It had two colonnades, which divided the interior into three
naves, and an apsidal sanctuary at the east end. One still can see the
low marble chancel screen. The basilica was destroyed by the earthquake
of AD 551.

Temple of Zeus at Olympia

The massive Temple of Zeus, the most important building in the Altis, standing in its very centre, is the largest temple in the Peloponnese.

The Altis, the enclosure with its
sacred grove, open-air altars and the tumulus of Pelops, was first
formed during the tenth and ninth centuries BCE.
Although just a chaotic heap of ruins today, the dimensions of the
temple are truly impressive. Only a bit smaller than the Parthenon in
Athens, it was a classic temple in the Doric style, first built in the
5th century B.C.

The temple enshrined a gold and ivory statue, later removed to Constantinople by Theodosius II (where it was destroyed by fire in 475 BC). The statue, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was
crafted by the great sculptor Pheidias. The original was 44 feet high
and lavishly decorated with Zeus on a throne of ivory and gold, holding a
statue of Nike in his right hand, and a scepter with an eagle in his
left.

One column has been restored and re-erected, and helps you put into perspective the temple's sheer size.

Temple of Hera

Temple of Hera is an ancient Doric
Greek temple at Olympia, Greece. The Temple of Hera was destroyed by an
earthquake in the early 4th century AD, and never rebuilt. In modern
times, the temple is the location where the torch of the Olympic flame
is lit, by focusing the rays of the sun.

NymphaionA Nymphaeum or Nymphaion in ancient Greece and Rome, was a monument consecrated to the nymphs, especially those of springs.

These monuments were originally natural
grottoes, which tradition assigned as habitations to the local nymphs.
They were sometimes so arranged as to furnish a supply of water, as at
Pamphylian Side. A nymphaeum dedicated to a local water nymph,
Coventina, was built along Hadrian's Wall, in the northernmost reach of
the Roman Empire. Subsequently, artificial grottoes took the place of
natural ones.

Olympic Stadium

The Crypt, a vaulted passageway linking the stadium with the Altis, was built at the end of the 3rd century BCE.

The stadium, where the athletic games
were held, was 212.54m long and 28.50m wide. The existing stadium was
the third laid out at Olympia.The stadium had no seats, apart from the stone exedra of the Hellanodikai. The embankment could easily seat 45,000 spectators.

Crossing the finish line at the Olympic Stadium might not be in your future during an Olympic Game, but you can join me and imagine the thrill of victory and the cheers of the nations' athletes on this hallowed ground.

Friday, August 26, 2011

While Hurricane Irene was barreling towards Bahamas and on to the East Coast of the United States, TD-Ten quietly formed in the far Eastern portions of the Atlantic Ocean. We monitored this storm, which had a chance of becoming a stronger Tropical Cyclone, but fortunately, that never materialized. Wind speeds never exceeded 35 mph which meant it would not be a named storm after all.

WHTI went into effect June 1, 2009 for land and sea travel into the U.S. WHTI document requirements for air travel went into effect in 2007.

Technically U.S. citizens taking “closed-loop” cruises are not required to have a passport but will need proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a driver’s license. (More information) It is still highly recommended that you travel with a valid passport. The following true story is just one reason why we make this recommendation.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean Strand 450 Passengers in San Juan

Last Sunday, Port Authorities in San Juan ordered two cruise vessels to depart early to avoid Hurricane Irene. Traffic in/out of the port was limited starting at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Carnival Victory (ordered to leave at 6 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.)

300 passengers had not boarded when the ship was ordered to leave. Carnival reached out to all guests who were unable to meet
the ship and either spoke to them directly, talked to emergency contacts
listed by the passengers, or reached out to passengers' travel agents. In some cases, they had to leave voice mails.

The cruise line offered complimentary hotel rooms for two
nights in San Juan to all 300 passengers, regardless of whether they
booked air through the line. The 300 impacted passengers were also
offered a free flight to Barbados to meet the ship. The flight required
that they have a passport. About half of the passengers took the hotel and air offer.

Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas (ordered to leave at 5:30 p.m instead of 8:30 pm)

145 passengers were left stranded at the pier when the ship sailed 3 hours early. Hotel accommodations and flights to Aruba to meet
the ship were provided to the 15 Serenade of the Seas passengers who had
booked the air/sea package through Royal Caribbean.

The balance of
cruise-only passengers were, upon arrival at the cruise terminal,
"advised of hotel availability in San Juan," said the line. The expense
of both the potential hotel stay and airfare to reach the ship was the
passengers' responsibility -- or covered by their travel insurance,
depending on the policy -- because the early departure was a
weather-related incident.

According to Royal Caribbean, there wasn't time to
alert the passengers of the early exit. "Since this decision was made by
the Port of San Juan on Sunday while the ship was docked alongside,
there was no way to notify our guests of this change in departure time,"
the line said in the statement. RCI did, however, have port agents
at the pier assisting guests who did not arrive in time to meet the
ship.

Royal Caribbean is not providing compensation for
passengers who missed the sailing, because the
early departure was a weather-related event. Any
passenger who missed the Carnival Victory cruise will be refunded in the
form of a future cruise credit.

UPDATE - RCI Changes Mind - Compensates Passengers
In a statement, the line said it is "compensating these passengers
because we understand that this was an unusual situation, and we want to
provide our guests with another opportunity to sail with Royal
Caribbean International in the near future."

Those passengers who did fly from San Juan to Serenade of the Seas
mid-cruise will, as we reported this week, receive a 30 percent future
cruise credit.

No Passport = No Vacation No Travel Insurance = Out of Pocket Expense

Hopefully you now understand why two pre-cruise travel expenses could make the difference between salvaging a vacation or returning home with disappointment and potential financial loss.

We often hear "we intend to go on this trip no matter what", so we don't need insurance. Mother Nature was in control for the past two weekends. No matter how much you wanted to go on your cruise, you might find yourself trying to catch up to a ship that departed without you. To do so, you'd need a passport. You could also incur additional expenses along the way, which could either come out of your pocket, or be reimbursed by the travel insurance company.

Be sure to cover your entire trip cost. This includes any shore excursions which you might book independently. Hurricane Irene has scrambled itineraries for more than a week now. Some independent providers will charge you for being a "no show". Don't forget those pre or post-cruise hotel stays as well as flights. Every item that could be canceled could cost you money if it isn't covered.

You should book and pay for travel insurance at the time of cruise booking. In some cases, there may be additional benefits to doing so, such as pre-existing health condition waivers. Perhaps you are healthy and that doesn't apply to you. Another reason to do so is that once an event has begun (Hurricane Irene in this case) coverages are limited to policies that were in force prior to the event.

Be sure to read travel policies for any limitations. There are many other reasons to have a passport and purchase travel insurance. Don't forget about the folks you leave at home. What happens if something happens to them and you need to leave your cruise early. Would you be able to do so, or could you be stranded at a foreign airport?

Disclaimer: We are not insurance agents and make no claims about coverages or limitations. We offer this advice as a service to our readers. Always check directly with the insurance company regarding any specific circumstances that need clarification. Click on the "Protect your vacation" image above to learn more about travel insurance.

High above the Earth from aboard the International Space Station,
astronaut Ron Garan snapped this image
of Hurricane Irene
as it passed over the Caribbean on Aug. 22, 2011. Credit: NASA

Major Hurricane Irene

Continues to Impact

Cruise Schedules

East Coast Bracing

for Landfall

For the second weekend in a row, Irene, now a Major Hurricane, is dominating the weather and causing local governments and the entire travel industry to scramble to revise schedules to keep property and people safe from harm.

Despite Hurricane Irene's weakening to a Category One status, it is still packing quite a punch and has local governments scrambling to keep property and residents safe. The NHC is warning that all of the tropical cyclone Hazards: Wind, heavy Rainfall, Storm Surge, Surf, and Tornadoes are forecast.

Hurricane of the Century

The GOES-13 satellite saw Hurricane Irene on August 27, 2011 at 10:10 a.m. EDT after it made landfall at 8 a.m. in
Cape Lookout, NC. Irene's outer bands had already extended into New England. (Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project)Click image for more dramatic images of Hurricane Irene

Many are referring to Hurricane Irene as the storm of the century. Mandatory evacuations have begun for parts of the eastern seaboard of the United States. The picture above, courtesy of NASA, shows why there is this great concern. The hurricane is massive! As we write this article, Irene is a Category Three Hurricane with winds in excess of 115 MPH. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles.

Ten States Declare Emergencies - Mandatory Evacuations Across the RegionTransportation Systems Shut Down

Irene will move northwest and approach the North Carolina Coast this weekend
before continuing its journey north, skimming the Mid-Atlantic coast with
possible landfall in New England.

Fifty-five million people are potentially in
Hurricane Irene's path, from the Carolinas to Cape Cod on the U.S. East Coast,
and tens of thousands are evacuating as cities including New York brace for the
powerful storm to hit.

It
was the first time the nation's largest city was evacuated. Never
before has the entire mass transit system been shuttered because of a
storm. New York city has not seen a storm of this magnitude in decades.

Mayor Michael
Bloomberg said he was confident people would get out of the storm's way.

"Waiting until the last minute is not a smart thing to do," Bloomberg said. "This is life-threatening."

President Obama spoke with reporters from the farm where he is vacationing on an island off the Boston coast. He will be leaving the area on Saturday well ahead of the storm.

"All indications point to this being a
historic hurricane,"

"I cannot stress this highly enough. If you
are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now.
Don't wait. Don't delay," Obama said.

Cruise Ship Travel Alerts

This past week, many cruises had their itineraries altered to outrun the storm. In most cases, port orders were changed or in some cases, Bahamas ports were swapped for Western Caribbean ports.

As the weekend approaches and the hurricane bears down on many of the homeports along the east coast, ships are racing to arrive ahead of the storm. Several itineraries have been modified to cut the current cruise short, arriving in the homeport as much as a day early. Some ships will delay arrivals until Monday. Departures for weekend cruises vary by port with some scheduled on time while others departing a day or more late.

Greyhound has canceled or delayed a number of routes because of the storm.

Hurricane Preparedness

Each year NHC, FEMA, and other government agencies host several events to raise awareness about the dangers of tropical storms and hurricanes. See our Hurricane Zone for links to articles we published in conjunction with this year's Hurricane Preparedness Week as well as those from past years. For those planning to sail this weekend, be sure to read Hurricane Preparedness for Cruisers

We will continue to monitor this major hurricane and post updates. Hurricane Zone will point to the latest information. We have provided several links which provide up to the minute news, forecasts, advisories.

Our coverage of Hurricane Irene began when it became a tropical storm Saturday, August 20th. It formed East of the Lesser Antilles and took a path South of Puerto Rico continuing in a northwestward direction. As predicted Irene strengthened into a hurricane before interacting with Hispaniola. Due to the potential to interact with land, it was difficult to predict further strength and movements beyond the first few days.

Several hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings were posted as the storm moved through the islands on its way towards the Bahamas. The Hurricane is expected to make landfall on the East Coast of the United States this weekend. It could become a Category Four hurricane before hitting land. This was a very dangerous Hurricane and evacuations were ordered all along the eastern seaboard of the United States. Consult our Hurricane Preparedness links on Hurricane Zone if you are in the path of the hurricane. Several cruise itineraries have been modified to stay clear of the storm.

August 28th 11 PM EDT - Irene loses tropical characteristics, but not until she was done ravaging the East Coast of the United States as well as several Caribbean ports of call. Bahamas had extensive damage with many of the private islands, that cruise lines call on, needing to be repaired. Saturday and Sunday were very long days for residents in NC all the way up the East Coast. The winds weren't the main problem, but rather the storm surge and inland flooding caused the most destruction. The danger isn't over from the raging waters. At first light on Monday, some areas will get their first look at just how bad things are (and it's not over).

GALE-FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT COASTAL AREAS FROM EASTERN
LONG ISLAND TO MAINE THROUGH EARLY MONDAY.

THE CENTER OF IRENE WILL MOVE OVER EASTERN CANADA TONIGHT
AND ON MONDAY.

CARNIVAL PRIDE – 8/28/11: Port Canaveral (Tuesday, instead of Wednesday) and Freeport (Wednesday),
after which the line will determine the remainder of the itinerary
based on Irene's projected path. USCG has directed the Pride's
captain to arrive early and proceed to a secure location to ride out the
hurricane. Embarkation for the 8/28 cruise is scheduled for Monday,
August 29th from 10am to 2 PM at the Baltimore cruise terminal.

Regrettably, the island of CocoCay, Bahamas, was impacted by the storm,
and we feel our guest's experience ashore would be disrupted. Because of
this, we have cancelled Majesty of the Seas'call to CocoCay for today, August 27, Monarch of the Seas' call to CocoCay on Sunday, August 28, and Freedom of the Seas' call to CocoCay on Monday, August 29.

Monarch of the Seas will now stay overnight in Nassau, Bahamas, departing at 11:00 a.m. today, August 28.
Freedom of the Seas will call on Nassau, Bahamas, on Monday, August 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Majesty of the Seas will also stay overnight in Nassau, Bahamas, arriving at 12:00 p.m. today and departing at 5:00 pm. on Sunday, August 28.

Veendam - current sailing: Bermuda (depart 5 PM Thursday instead of Friday), Arrive New York Saturday (one day early). Passengers can disembark on Saturday or overnight until Sunday.

Veendam 8/28 Sailing: The ship will remain in New York overnight on Sunday, August 28, and
will now depart Monday, August 29, at 2:00 pm. Guests will be able to
embark as scheduled on Sunday provided there is access to the cruise
terminal. Due to the government declared evacuation of some areas of the
city and impending transit challenges, access to the cruise terminal
may be limited or closed on Sunday. Embarkation on Monday, August 29 will begin at 8:00 am and continue
until 1:00 pm, at which time all passengers should be on board the ship.

For guests considering embarkation on Sunday, Holland America Line
encourages guests to check local New York City transit and government
websites (www.NYC.gov or www.mta.info).
If you are in the local area, you can also call our special information
line at 732-698-1222 for the latest information on access to the pier.

ms Maasdam August 27, 7-day Canada/New England Cruise (Boston to Montreal, Quebec)
Guests embarked in Boston on Saturday, August 27, as
planned and the ship sailed at 5:00pm prior to the storms arrival. Due
to very high winds and rough seas expected near the first two port calls
of Bar Harbor, Maine, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, these calls have been
cancelled and the itinerary modified, adding the ports of Gaspe and
Saguenay, Quebec later in the week.

Summit:will remain in Bermuda until 5:00 p.m.
today, Friday, August 26. We now anticipate that the ship will arrive
in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Monday, August 29.

Next sailing will now
depart on Monday, August 29. Guests scheduled to sail on the Sunday,
August 28, sailing of Celebrity Summit should now arrive at Cape Liberty
on Monday between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Norwegian Jewel will return to New York
early on Saturday, August 27 and guests currently on board will
disembark beginning at 6 am. Embarkation for the August 27 cruise will
commence earlier beginning at 10 am. The ship will depart three hours
earlier than scheduled at 1 pm. All guests are advised to arrive at the
pier between 10 am and noon. Once the ship is underway, there may be a
change to the scheduled Bahamas &amp; Florida itinerary.

Norwegian Gem will remain at sea, keeping a safe distance from the
storm, on Sunday, August 28 instead of returning to New York as
scheduled. The ship will arrive in New York at 8 am on Monday, August
29. All guests for the August 28 cruise are asked to arrive at the pier
on Monday, August 29 beginning at noon. The ship is scheduled to depart
New York at 4 pm on Monday en route to Bermuda.

Both Norwegian Dawn sailing from Boston and Norwegian Sky sailing from Miami today will depart as scheduled.

Caribbean Princesswill arrive in New York on Saturday, August 27, one
hour early at 6 a.m. In addition, check-in for the next cruise will
begin at 10 a.m. instead of 1 p.m. in anticipation of an early
departure. Itinerary has been altered
slightly; Monday, a sea day will replace a call at Halifax but the ship
will visit there Tuesday. The planned Tuesday call at St. John is
canceled.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Dreamdid not stop at the line's private island of
Castaway Cay on Saturday, August 27, due to the storm's impact. Instead,
the ship spent an additional day in Nassau.

See Historical Data below for changes earlier in the week

MONITOR LINKS FOR LAST MINUTE CHANGES FOR WEEKEND CRUISES

IRENE IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED BY ALL CRUISE LINES AND ADDITIONAL CHANGES MAY BE NECESSARY. GUESTS WILL BE NOTIFIED ON BOARD .CLOSELY MONITOR DEPARTURE TIMES AS THEY ARE CHANGING

While we will do our best to keep this post
updated, this unprecedented storm is prompting last minute changes. Be
sure to keep in close contact with your travel agent / cruise line.

CHANGES IN WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...
THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES
HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* SOUTH COAST OF NEW BRUNSWICK FROM THE UNITED STATES/CANADA BORDER
NORTHEASTWARD TO FORT LAWRENCE INCLUDING GRAND MANAN
* SOUTH COAST OF NOVA SCOTIA FROM FORT LAWRENCE TO PORTERS LAKE
THE TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR CANADA WILL LIKELY BE
DISCONTINUED EARLY MONDAY.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. A WARNING IS TYPICALLY ISSUED
36 HOURS BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF
TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS...CONDITIONS THAT MAKE OUTSIDE
PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR DANGEROUS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE
AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
WITHIN THE WATCH AREA. A WATCH IS TYPICALLY ISSUED 48 HOURS
BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED FIRST OCCURRENCE OF TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE
WINDS...CONDITIONS THAT MAKE OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT OR
DANGEROUS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS...MAINLY OVER OR NEAR THE WATER WELL TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF
THE CENTER. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT
48 HOURS.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

STORM SURGE...ELEVATED WATER LEVELS WILL PERSIST IN AREAS OF ONSHORE
WINDS ALONG THE COAST FROM CONNECTICUT THROUGH MAINE. THE HIGHEST
STORM SURGE...ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND
WILL SUBSIDE OVERNIGHT AND ON MONDAY. USERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES FOR
LOCATION-SPECIFIC STORM TIDE AND SURGE INFORMATION.
RAINFALL...HEAVY RAINS ARE DIMINISHING OVER NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND.
ANY ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD AMOUNT TO LESS THAN ONE INCH.
WIND...WINDS OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE...ESPECIALLY IN GUSTS...COULD
STILL OCCUR ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN NEW ENGLAND...NEW
BRUNSWICK...AND NOVA SCOTIA OVERNIGHT. SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER WIND
SPEEDS ARE LIKELY OVER AREAS OF ELEVATED TERRAIN IN NORTHERN NEW
ENGLAND AND EASTERN CANADA.

THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER ON THIS SYSTEM. FUTURE INFORMATION ON THIS SYSTEM...
INCLUDING TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS FROM IRENE...CAN BE FOUND IN
PUBLIC ADVISORIES ISSUED BY THE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION
CENTER...UNDER AWIPS HEADER TCPAT4 AND WMO HEADER WTNT34 KWNH...
BEGINNING AT 5 AM EDT.

In anticipation of Hurricane Irene’s arrival Sunday
night, New York City is taking pre-cautionary measures that may affect
your ability to arrive at the terminal on a timely basis. We encourage
all guests sailing on the Carnival Glory to make plans to arrive at Pier
88 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Please bear with us as
the debarkation process from the previous sailing will be ongoing, but
we will do all possible to make you comfortable. Sailing time remains
at 3:00 PM, however we may sail earlier.

Norwegian Gem: Kings Wharf, Bermuda (Wednesday - Thursday), Departs for New York (6 PM Thursday - one day early), Returns to New York (Sunday)

Norwegian Jewel: Great Stirrup
Cay (Tuesday), At Sea instead of Nassau (Wednesday), Heading north
to return to New York (Saturday)

Norwegian Sky: Nassau, Bahamas (Tuesday), At Sea instead of
Great Stirrup Cay,
Bahamas (Wednesday), Depending on the path of the
storm, the ship may also have to cancel its call to Freeport, Bahamas on
Thursday, August 25.

Guests on board the vessels will be kept
up to date by the ship’s Captain. It is also important to note that NCL
will continue to closely monitor the storm and if the path changes, may need to modify these itineraries.

Royal Caribbean modified port orders as follows:

Explorer of the Seas will depart Cape Liberty,
Bayonne, New Jersey, today, Saturday, August 27 at 4:00 p.m. – one hour
earlier than originally scheduled. We ask that all guests arrive at the
pier no later than 3:00 p.m. today.